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Singapore Develops a Satellite to Track Hazardous Gas Clouds and Strengthen Public Safety

Singapore plans to develop a new satellite dedicated to the detection and tracking of hazardous gas clouds, with the aim of enhancing public safety and crisis‑anticipation capabilities. The announcement was made by K. Shanmugam, Minister for National Security and Home Affairs, during the Milipol TechX Summit 2026, held in Singapore from 28 to 30 April. 

The project, led by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), involves the design of the agency’s first satellite, named Xplorer. Its primary mission will be to detect and track toxic gas plumes, providing emergency services—particularly the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)—with real‑time information. This capability will enable faster and more targeted decision‑making during industrial incidents, chemical accidents, or other crises involving hazardous substances. 

Beyond its immediate operational objective, the project reflects Singapore’s ambition to harness space technologies in support of public security and urban resilience. HTX will work in partnership with the newly established National Space Agency of Singapore to explore new space‑based applications for risk management and population protection. 

The minister also emphasized that technologies still in their infancy today will become tomorrow’s strategic advantages. In this context, space, artificial intelligence and robotics are seen as key enablers. HTX therefore plans to strengthen its capabilities in humanoid robotics, with the upcoming launch of a dedicated centre that will allow security forces to test and co‑develop new equipment under realistic conditions. 

Through this initiative, Singapore reaffirms its strategy of anticipating future threats by investing early in advanced technologies, while positioning space as a practical tool in support of homeland security and national resilience. 

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